Why is There Fluoride in My Drinking Water?

You’ve heard about fluoride being in toothpaste and how it’s used at the dentist office — but did you know it’s also in your home’s water?

Really? Yes!

“But why is something that’s used in toothpaste also in my water? And how did it get there?”

Lucky for you, we some answers for you!

Homes With a Public Water Supply

For homes that receive their water from a public water supply, fluoride is added via a controlled process known as water fluoridation.

But why is fluoride added to the water supply?

Fluoride is known for preventing and reducing tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association. While this fluoride provides wonders for our teeth, The Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration both recently decided to lower how much fluoride is in the public’s water supply.

The recommended level of fluoride in both tap and bottled water is now 0.7mg/L. However, it’s important to note that fluoride does not impact the taste, smell, or appearance of water.

Homes With Well Water

For homes that receive their water from well systems, fluoride is present in a naturally-occurring form known as fluorine.

Depending on where you live, the level of fluoride in well water can vary. Some areas of the U.S. can reach levels over 1.5 mg/L, which is entirely too much. Luckily, many areas in Pennsylvania do not reach these levels.

In order to make sure that your well is providing water with optimal levels of fluoride, you should have it tested annually. The water should be tested not only for fluoride levels, but also for any contaminants that could negatively affect the water (and possibly your health).

Whether you’re living in Lititz, Manheim, or Ephrata, there’s a good chance you probably have hard water. There’s no reason you should ever have to live with water that is subpar. Water conditioning is something we are very passionate about here at Lancaster PHCE, so give us a call if your home’s water could be better than it is right now.